Hand Middle School

Hand Middle School
Hold Hand High
Established 1929
Type Public middle school
President Hainse Fleshman
Principal Marisa Vickers
Asst. Principal Karis Mazyck
Faculty 70
Students 950
Grades 6-8
Location 2600 Wheat Street,
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
District Richland County School District One
Colors Blue and Gold          
Athletics football,basketball,volleyball,
Mascot Hornet
Website Official site

Hand Middle School is a middle school in Columbia, South Carolina, USA that educates around 950 students in grades 6-8.[1] A Blue Ribbon school, it feeds into Dreher High School and it is one of Richland County School District One's oldest schools. Marisa Vickers is the Principal. The mascot is the Hornet and the school colors are Blue and Gold.[2]

Contents

Academics

This school was known for its low standards in the early 1990s.[3] A recovery plan was implemented and Hand was awarded Blue Ribbon status in 1999-2000.[4] Blue Ribbon schools are the highest award that can be given to a US school.[5][6] Standards have continued to improve and in 2006-07 grades increased by 30% across the board.[7]

Children's author Karen Petit writes fictional novels for children in grades 4-8. To assist her, creative-writing classes of sixth-graders have edited each of the works; currently three such classes are involved. Petit commented favourably on the students' objectivity and attention to detail.[8]

Time award

Time magazine chose Hand Middle School as one of its three Schools of the Year for 2000-01.[9] This is an honor that recognizes K-12 schools considered 'educational pioneers'.[10] The school was also the subject of a feature article in the magazine.[11]

Notable faculty

Cliff Barrineau, who teaches mathematics at the School, was named Richland 1 Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005.[12] He was also a 2003 'National Educator' award winner by the Milken Family Foundation, which recognizes 'exceptional teachers, principals and other specialists who are furthering excellence in (the) nation's schools'.[13]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Hand Middle School", Great Schools
  2. ^ "Hand Middle School", Richland County School District One
  3. ^ "HAND MIDDLE SCHOOL SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED", The State, October 21, 1994
  4. ^ "Blue Ribbon Schools Project", U.S. Department of Education
  5. ^ CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department, Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
  6. ^ Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post. September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
  7. ^ Lindt, Susan E. (24 July 2007). "Wellness works wonders for SDL". Intelligencer Journal. http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/207223. 
  8. ^ "Dog detective is hero of book series", Aiken Standard, 17 July 2007
  9. ^ Time, Edition: U.S. Vol. 157 No. 20, May 21, 2001
  10. ^ "TIME MAGAZINE HONORS HAND MIDDLE", The State, May 14, 2001
  11. ^ ""Let Them Lift Us Up"", Jodie Morse, Time magazine, May 21, 2001
  12. ^ "DREHER TEACHER, OTHERS HONORED AT CELEBRATION 2004", The State, May 27, 2004
  13. ^ "RICHLAND 1 MATH TEACHER WINS MILKEN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE", The State, October 17, 2003
  14. ^ "Students Win National History Awards", WLTX, 7 July 2007

External links